BALTIMORE — Ivan Nova could be activated as soon as today, which means he could be the Yankees’ starting pitcher for the finale of this series with the Orioles tomorrow.

Manager Joe Girardi would not commit to when he expected Nova to pitch, but said he will be coming off the disabled list soon.

“I’m ready,” Nova said yesterday. “I can’t wait to get back on the mound and compete.”
Nova has been out with shoulder inflammation and has not started since Aug. 21. Before going on the DL, he had lost four of his last five decisions and seen his ERA climb from 3.92 to 4.92.

If Nova gets the call tomorrow, he would replace Freddy Garcia, who has not completed six innings in any of his last three starts.

• Mark Teixeira expects to be back in the lineup tonight, but will still undergo a pregame test.

“I feel like I’m ready,” said Teixeira, who has been out with a strained left calf.

A day after saying he ran at 80 percent, Teixeira joked he’d upped the effort to “about 87.3 percent. And I had my spikes on, on the bases. So that was a good measuring stick, too.”

Teixeira said he will return and play first base, not be the designated hitter.

“It’s easier to be in the field, to stay warm,” Teixeira said. “Any time there’s an issue, anytime there’s a muscle pull, you want to keep it warm.”

• The lineup last night included the right-handed bats of late-season acquisitions Steve Pearce and Casey McGehee, batting in the eighth and ninth positions.

When asked if he considered the right-handed bat of Eduardo Nunez for the lineup, Girardi said, “No, because (Derek) Jeter was going to play shortstop.”

Girardi has said Nunez is not going to be used any more this season in the utility role, to which Nunez said, “Everyone knows I’m not going to play shortstop here. But I’ll keep working hard.”

Nunez intends to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic. “I need to play more because this year I haven’t gotten enough at-bats or innings,” he said.

• A night after giving up a monstrous home run to Adam Jones, reliever David Robertson came in to face Jones in the eighth inning. This time, Robertson struck Jones out on three straight curveballs.

“You’re going to have bad nights,” Robertson said. “So it felt good to get right back out there against the same guys.”

• Phil Hughes gave up a home run to Jones, the 33rd homer he has surrendered this season. The most allowed by a Yankee in a season was 40 by Ralph Terry in 1962.

Hughes is tied for third on the list with Javier Vazquez (33 in 2004). One more and he’ll be tied for second with Orlando Hernandez, who surrendered 34 in 2000.